State Standards:

GSE PS3 (7-8)-8 - Motion

Students demonstrate an understanding of motion by…
  • 8c differentiating among speed, velocity and acceleration

National Standards:

Context of Lesson:

This lesson takes a side step from the previous lesson and introduces some history to the concept of acceleration. First students will learn about the scientist Galileo through a web quest. In this quest they will learn about what it took for him to develop his ideas about acceleration in the nature of science. I use the words nature of science to emphasize the concept that I hope students recognize, that science is an inquiry based study that may require many trials, as Galileo discovered. This lesson will provide students with the background information necessary to complete the lab activity in the following lesson. Students will recreate Galileo's experiment to look at acceleration on an inclined plane.

Opportunities to Learn:

Depth of Knowledge

Webb level one:
  • Perform a clearly defined set of steps
Webb level two:
  • Identify and summarize the major events in a narrative

Prerequisite Knowledge

  • Acceleration
  • Using a computer
  • Following specific instructions to perform a web quest

Plans for Differentiating Instruction

  • Students will view a short video on Galileo and his experiement on an inclined plane.
  • Students will perform a web quest to read different supplemental accounts on his life and experiments.

Accommodations and modifications

  • Students that require modifications will have a more simple web quest. They will be provided a website at their reading level.

Environmental factors

  • .The opening of this lesson will be a whole class discussion
  • Desks will be arranged in rows
  • Students will all be given a computer for the web quest

Materials

  • Video
  • Computers
  • Web Quest instructions
  • Video questions

Objectives:

  • Students will complete a web quest to recall and identify the main ideas of supplemental readings.

Instruction:

Opening:

Warm up: Display acceleration question on board.
  • Students answer question as they come into the classroom
  • Teacher collects answers and students share.
  • "How do you think scientists discover concepts such as acceleration?"
    • Students brainstorm
  • Today we will learn about the scientist that discovered the idea of acceleration.

Engagement:

  • Teacher introduces Galileo.
  • Teacher plays video on Galileo (5 minutes)
  • Teacher explains web quest assignment and gives each student a computer.
  • Teacher walks around as the students complete the web quest.

Closure:

  • Students put computers away with 5 minutes left of class.
  • Discussion "What does the information you learned about Galileo and his experiments tell you about science inquiry?"

Assessment:


  • Completion of web quest and video questions
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